Lichtman Joins Democratic Field for Senate

BETHESDA, Md. - American University political historian Allan Lichtman announced his candidacy Wednesday for U.S. Senate, saying his upstart campaign for the Democratic nomination was a challenge to a tradition of Maryland Democrats anointing a front-runner in statewide races.

Speaking at his son's middle school in Bethesda, Lichtman compared himself to the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, a Minnesota political scientist who won a Senate seat in 1990 without ever holding elected office. And he challenged the record of Rep. Ben Cardin, D-Md., a leading candidate in the Democratic primary.

"The anointment model has never worked in Maryland. It is a recipe for a Republican senator in 2006," Lichtman said.

He joins a growing field of Democrats seeking the party nomination in 2006 to replace the retiring Sen. Paul Sarbanes. Along with Cardin, former congressman and NAACP head Kweisi Mfume is running. Social activist A. Robert Kaufman and psychiatrist Lise Van Susteren, the sister of Fox News television personality Greta Van Susteren, are also campaigning for the seat.

Republicans are courting Lt. Gov. Michael Steele to run. Although he has raised money, Steele has yet to say if he will enter the race.

Lichtman addressed about 50 people in the gymnasium of the North Bethesda Middle School. Friends of his son held up a Lichtman banner and handmade signs behind him, including one that read "If you have a brain, vote for Lichtman."

A Bethesda resident, Lichtman teaches presidential history at American University. He plans to continue to teach even as he runs for Senate. To fund his bid, he has mortgaged his home, seeding his campaign with $250,000.

Although he has never held public office, Lichtman said he has considerable public policy experience. That includes testifying as an expert witness in voting rights and redistricting court cases, and commentary he has provided on national television.

While other candidates might have greater name recognition, Lichtman said "people recognize me when they see me and hear me."

He called on President Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq, but wouldn't commit to a concrete deadline. Government intrudes too much in people's private lives, he said, citing issues such as challenges to abortion. And he pledged to write a bill that would reduce American dependence on fossil fuels by 50 percent during the next 20 years.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)